Configuring a USB storage device connected to FRITZ!Box

The FRITZ!Box allows you to use USB storage devices connected to it as a central storage location in the home network ("Storage (NAS)"). Then all of the computers, smartphones, and other devices connected to the FRITZ!Box can easily access your files with a web browser or using the Server Message Block protocol (SMB), for example with the Windows Explorer on Windows computers.

In addition, you can set up a secure Internet sharing for the USB storage devices. This allows you to access your files from the Internet at any time.

Requirements / Restrictions

The USB storage device must be formatted with the file system NTFS, FAT/FAT32 or ext2/ext3/ext4 and may have no more than four partitions, each up to 4 terabytes in size.

Note:If the USB storage device is formatted with a different file system, the FRITZ!Box USB remote connection software will allow you to use it with the FRITZ!Box.

1 Preparations

Disabling the USB remote connection for USB storage devices in the FRITZ!Box

You can only access a USB storage device connected to the FRITZ!Box with more than one device at the same time if the device is not configured for use with the USB remote connection software:

Connecting a USB storage device to the FRITZ!Box

Connect the USB storage device to the USB port on the FRITZ!Box.

Important:According to the USB specifications, the power consumption of a USB device may not exceed 500 mA. If the USB storage device requires more than this, connect it to the FRITZ!Box by means of a USB hub with its own power supply (active USB hub). Refer to the manufacturer of the USB storage device for information on its power consumption.

2 Setting up FRITZ!Box users

In order to access storage (NAS) contents, you need a user account with a user name and password. Set up a FRITZ!Box user in the FRITZ!Box for this purpose:

If each user should use an individual password to access the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "Login with FRITZ!Box user name and password".

If all users should use a shared password to access the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "Login with the FRITZ!Box password" and enter a password of your choice that will be required to access the FRITZ!Box user interface.

4 Setting up storage (NAS)

5 Accessing USB storage devices

There are several ways to access USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box. Which method makes most sense depends on whether you are in your home network or want to access the storage device when you are away from home, and whether you are using a computer, or a smartphone or tablet:

Accessing storage (NAS) in the home network

In the home network, you can use a web browser to easily access USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box via http://fritz.nas.

If you would to prefer to use the Windows Explorer, macOS Finder, or another application that uses the Server Message Block protocol (SMB), you can also configure the USB storage device connected to the computer as a network drive.

On the other hand, we recommend using MyFRITZ!App with a smartphone or tablet with Android or iOS to access the USB storage devices.

Accessing storage (NAS) over the Internet

When away from home, you can also access USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box over the Internet at any time by means of a secure Internet sharing. However, we recommend using MyFRITZ!App with a smartphone or tablet.

If you only want to allow other users to access certain files or folders, you can simply share them by means of an access link. This way you can allow friends and relatives to access your pictures and videos from your last vacation without allowing them to change or delete files from the USB storage device, for example.

If you prefer to use an FTP client such as Cyberduck, FileZilla, or WinSCP instead of a web browser, you can also access USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box via FTP/FTPS when you are away from home.